NCJ Number
205263
Date Published
June 2004
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study investigated America’s network against gun violence through a program called Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Abstract
Although violent crimes rates in the United States are down to a 30-year low, gun violence, particularly homicide, continues to be a significant problem. Death by firearms accounted for 67 percent of all homicides in 2002. To combat crime, President Bush created an aggressive, comprehensive gun crime reduction strategy called Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). By linking Federal, State, and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders, PSN provides a multifaceted approach to deterring and punishing gun crime. In order for PSN to be successful, five core elements are necessary: partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach, and accountability. The President has devoted more than $1 billion to be used for fiscal years 2001-2004. Funds are used for various objectives, including hiring attorneys to work full time on gun prosecution cases, updating and automating State criminal history records, expanding the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative and Integrated Violence Reduction Strategy, and creating a nationwide tracing system. Because of the PSN program, Federal prosecutions of gun crime are at record levels; they increased 68 percent from FY 2000 to FY 2003. The belief that is being presented is that if a felon possesses a firearm, his/her case will be thoroughly reviewed for the possibility of Federal prosecution.